698: How to Structure 1:1 Meetings, with Steven Rogelberg

Steven Rogelberg: Glad We Met
Steven Rogelberg is an organizational psychologist, holding the title of Chancellor’s Professor at UNC Charlotte for distinguished national, international and interdisciplinary contributions. He is an award-winning teacher and recipient of the Humboldt Award for his research on meetings. He is the author of Glad We Met: The Art and Science of 1:1 Meetings (bookshop.org/a...) *.
Many us appreciate the value of 1:1 meetings with employees. For a lot of managers, it’s one of their biggest time commitments. And yet, nobody ever taught us how to do it. In this conversation, Steven and I discuss how to actually structure an effective 1:1.
Key Points

• First and foremost, a 1:1 meeting is for the direct report.

• A set schedule for 1:1’s with your team reduces bias by ensuring you connect with everyone, consistently.

• A loose framework is better than a lock-step agenda. Two approaches help: the manager proposing a core question or listing out topics that the direct report brings.

• Avoid status update meetings by articulating the purpose of 1:1’s and dedicating agenda time (or future meetings) to bigger picture topics.

• Skip-level 1:1’s are valuable for both employees and senior leaders. Avoid undermining another leader by approaching the meeting with the mindset to support the employee, rather than making decisions.

Resources Mentioned

• Glad We Met: The Art and Science of 1:1 Meetings (bookshop.org/a...) * by Steven Rogelberg

Interview Notes
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